Crown Court - Common Sense (1978)

[@IanMelling-t8e]

Hahaha This takes me back, I played "Geoffrey Gibson" and got 3 weeks off school for rehearsals and filming. Spent most of the days skateboarding around Granada studios to much annoyance from the staff. Never thought I'd get to see this again.

[@kingbolo4579]

Well, I thought you gave an absolutely top performance. The whole show is excellent.

[@manfromnocky]

Yes you made a very good performance Sir.

[@Kirkee7]

I thought it was a bit contrived for a boy of that age to be so confident in a Crown Court.

[@IanMelling-t8e]

@@Kirkee7 I was the dark haired boy who cried :)

[@Kirkee7]

Oh lol I got you mixed up. Your were very convincing with the tears' . @@IanMelling-t8e

[@iandexterong9196]

Quality shows such as Crown Court don’t exist anymore. Thank you so much for sharing. I enjoyed watching the series.

[@duncanspiers8855]

That's a bit of an indictment regarding the standard of today's television. But I have to agree with you.

[@derby1884]

One of those cases that makes you think. Thank you for uploading it. A brave actor, was Frank Mills, to take on this role.

[@lookoutleo]

Absolutely Frank mills was a very brave actor to do this role

[@tinamartin4133]

Thank You Jez, really appreciated, all this crap on tv , this is worth watching, this is quality , they don't make them like they used to. Thanks mate! xx

[@manfromnocky]

This is an excellent episode, all the performances and writing are good, but the actor who played the defendant, Frank Mills, is outstanding.

[@zoyablake9538]

The children acted so well! Thanks so much for these uploads. I loved watching Crown Court as a child, and actually took an A level in Law because of it.

[@stephenhardy312]

Well done! The series was very inspiring, as you have proved.

[@fritula6200]

Brilliant! Zoya.

[@markgreet3543]

Well done respect to you lady great series saw it early 1980s

[@lookoutleo]

It makes you think, UK was able to only have 3 channels when this was made and this was on our only commercial channel which had adverts and was happy that such serious subjects were covered . I think commercial TV now would struggle to make great content like this . The character of Geoff Neil Gibson is an amazing child actor , he will be 60 now if he was 12 in 1974, wonder where he is now . Thankyou for sharing it.

[@manfromnocky]

Read the comments further down Leo. The actor who played the kid Geoff makes a comment here.

[@gchecosse]

​​@@manfromnockyhe replies to a comment rather than commenting himself in case you're looking for it. He doesn't say what he did instead of acting. (He replies to a joking comment about National Service)

[@IanMelling-t8e]

@@lookoutleo 60!!! Hurummmph, I'm still 59 and as to what I'm doing, I'm reading your comment! thank you for the kind words Leo. If it was a good performance it must be down to the director and editor, my one and only acting role. My school was next to Strangeways so was close to both Granada & the BBC studio's in Manchester, we were often asked to be extras when they needed a group of kids for a program. If you saw a kid on Corrie in the 70/80's it was probably a pupil from my school. Not even sure how I got the part on CC as I'd only kicked a ball on Corrie before this role. Andrew Sachs should also get a lot of credit for taking me under his wing and making me feel really comfortable during rehearsals and not be overawed by it all. It was a real shock to find it on KZbin so many years later it brings back so many memories.

[@lookoutleo]

@@IanMelling-t8e wow your the actor and worked with Andrew Sachs , super wow . Your my age , sprightly 1964 baby :) did this not open up other roles? What did you end up doing for work? Here in Highlands of Scotland watching these dramas was a window to a distant world that we were hardly a part of .

[@IanMelling-t8e]

​@@lookoutleoHi Leo, my family are originally from the old Post Office at Bridge of Gaur, Rannoch loch. So all my holidays growing up were spent in the Highlands!

[@algie-t2w]

The writing and the performances are superb. They belong to an age now past.

[@sloveniadave]

I had the privilege of knowing the writer, Tony Parker. A lovely man and an amazing student of humanity (and inhumanity)

[@susannamarker2582]

TV was a lot better than the plebby TV of today. No dumbing down back then, like today. Crown Ct. was and is still quality.

[@BRUTUALTRUTH]

NO SPOILER so don't worry! Wow, what an episode! Very atmospheric and that Judge did a very good summing up. Halfway I thought the defendant was toast but what a brilliant defence to counter-attack the alleged offences! Of course the jury have to decide and you may agree or be hopping mad what they decide. The Jury here take this case so serious forgetting that its all acting - due to the brilliant performances. Granada TV only allow them half an hour to make a decision in the studios. Hate to say it that one of the Jury members looks like something out of a Pantomime! The police officer in the witness box looks like that monstrous Ian Brady. A very serious topic here but the psychologist who confused the prosecution was pure comedy. He had him exasperated LOL. Jez, again a million thanks for uploading another most entertaining yet serious episode.

[@metrolooker]

Such an excellent legal drama and so convincingly played out. Feels more real than fictional and a joy to hear English being spoken so eloquently and persuasively. Love all the different characters and storylines and the jury. So true to real court proceedings.

[@ukchristian28]

I deleted my last comment because apparently I was wrong. I thought the defence and prosecution barristers were always on the wrong side of the court but apparently, the prosecution can sit on either side of the court, usually the opposite side to the jury. So yes, very true to life in that regard after all.

[@mrmofthegower3926]

Thanks Jez. Love crown court. 👍🏼

[@ysgol3]

The defendant played Betty Turpin's second husband Billy in Corrie. Billy was killed off many years ago, the actor lived well into his 90s and only died quite recently.

[@TheHeathcliff666xxx]

thanks jez you got quite a following love he last 2 down loads you are guilty of giving your subscribers of too much pleasure you get 5 years hard down loading as punishisment lol.

[@brainbaskerville3341]

peter jeffery other very underated actor in a lot of things always enjoyed his work in the early bird

[@davidfrost779]

Marvellous cast as always especially the young lad playing the first boy and of course Peter Jeffrey anther underrated actor and Raymond Huntley.not forgetting Andrew Sachs of course

[@alecgallagher9196]

I was so wrapped up thinking that defence council sounded and looked like the BBC journalist Justin Webb that I totally failed to realise that it was actually Andrew Sachs! Another tremendous episode, with a cracking performance by Frank Mills as the defendant and a great summing up by the judge. The doctor at the end went on to be one of Regan and Carter's colleagues in the Sweeney. Also, a scenery malfunction at 47.51 - one of the returning jurors touches the wall and it moves just like Crossroads scenery!

[@malcolmlucas6627]

I shall rewind to 47 m 51 seconds immediately! I thought the doctor looked familar from somewhere - IIrc in the sweeney his name was "Jelly"!?

[@d44ge]

A VERY SERIOUSLY DISTURBING CASE.

[@up4itgal]

Absolutely gripped by this episode. I really wanted to know what the punishment was! Thanks for posting. Brilliant stuff.

[@scabbycatcat4202]

Yes so did I and I suspect most people who have been gripped by this episode. We have definitely been " short changed " in this episode.

[@lookoutleo]

The character of Geoff Neil Gibson is an amazing child actor , what a complex subject for someone so young , he will be 60 now if he was 12 in 1974, wonder where he is now

[@gchecosse]

According to imdb this was his only role, so he presumably did something else with his life.

[@kirkbrookes4812]

Going through them .very addictive.

[@camelia9802]

Very good acting. Thanks for sharing.

[@Dustydreams930]

Well that doctor was certainly a big help. A fascinating episode. Tony Parker had previously written a Wednesday Play on this theme, entitled Chariot of Fire. In that, alcohol is what triggers the person to lapse back into offending, so it’s interesting that this could be the key to it here, though Little is made of it.

[@davidfrost779]

Frank Mills should have an award for his fantastic performance, he later played Fig Newton Rumpoles friend in Rumpole of the Bailey

[@billyshearer117]

Gosh. Daytime TV was a different kettle of fish in the 70s

[@EricTViking]

Brilliant - very moving... And I knew I recognised Alex Norton (McAngus in Blackadder) - took me a while to place him, and if I'm not mistaken the chap sitting in front of the dock was Barry Evans from Mind Your Language. Great performance by Andrew Sachs too.

[@BRUTUALTRUTH]

That's where I saw him before!!!!!

[@andyforshortbutnotforlong5351]

Common sense is unfortunately much less common than it used to be. 😢

[@patrickkparrker413]

Nearly non existent , they don't even know the difference between a male and female anymore .

[@tonggao08]

What a good episode. The cross examinations were brilliant.

[@psmith2112]

I remember watching this the first time round!

[@miles-thesleeper-monroe8466]

Not only were TV audiences treated with respect through intelligent discussion on the finer points of law, but the legal system then wasn't designed to engineer out the role of jurys for the sake of cost and expediency. I think in the US you have to be rich or a cause celebre to get a jury and defence in court, otherwise you're plea bargained to conviction, an abhorrent abuse of state power. It's getting that way here

[@GriefTourist]

Can't believe this went out at lunchtime!

[@duncanspiers8855]

Nice to see Andrew Sachs playing the defence counsel so well.

[@patrickkparrker413]

A mother and son relationship is very key point here .

[@LANCSKID]

I thought the defendant’s name was Reginald Barton, but at the end he was referred to as ‘Will Stand’ … 🧑🏼‍🦱

[@ninajefferson9743]

These court cases are just great! As matter fact there so much more relevant than today's Judge Judy, Judge Faith etc.

[@jezt42]

Glad you’re enjoying CC, Nina! 👍

[@ninajefferson9743]

@@jezt42 Thx J. T. Nice.

[@mckavitt13]

They're

[@imrank340]

Manuel the QC, unbelievable?

[@patrickkparrker413]

And from Barcelona too 😁

[@elizabethgalligan1805]

The acting is superb😊 👌

[@minekara6407]

Love Raymond Huntley as the judge

[@LANCSKID]

Taking time off from advising Lord Richard Bellamy … 🤵‍♂️

[@kirkbrookes4812]

Copper.looks like Ian Brady.

[@susannah1948]

Wow Alex norton - I recognized him only by the voice.........

[@tigerlillyfeelfree1695]

I used to watch this at the age of four when my siblings were at school. There was nothing else on tv😂

[@geoffgeoff5586]

My goodness! Manuel really came up in the world after leaving Torquay and his English is nearly perfect.

[@beaufighter245]

Yes, it just shows what a diverse actor he was.

[@arthurvasey]

He’s actually German by birth! Or rather was!

[@PhilReynoldsLondonGeek]

Frank Mills played a "none-too-happy" man who was the father of the young man who died from AIDS in Closing Numbers (1993).

[@scabbycatcat4202]

How could the producers create such a truly gripping series which include such powerful drama and then MISS OUT the one missing piece of the jigsaw ?? What was the sentence ?? I think so many people will who have been gripped by this particular episode will feel short changed by this very obvious oversight.

[@anthonyxuereb792]

There can be no sentence since this is pure fiction and all those taking part, except for the jury, are actors.

[@scabbycatcat4202]

@@anthonyxuereb792 Then why is there usually a sentence given in most of the other episodes ?

[@anthonyxuereb792]

@@scabbycatcat4202 I've only watched 4 episodes and none of them ended with a sentence handed down.

[@scabbycatcat4202]

@@anthonyxuereb792 Well if you watched more episodes you will see sentences " handed down ".

[@anthonyxuereb792]

@@scabbycatcat4202 I look forward to seeing many of more, I only recently discovered the series, I never knew they existed.

[@abaha9898]

Common sense is harder than being intellectual

[@geezerp1982]

why would the prisoner admit to sexual offences convictions when the DPP would not be allowed to introduce pervious convictions at trial !!!

[@stephenhardy312]

FYI: When this series was made, the CPS had not been instituted.

[@geezerp1982]

@@stephenhardy312 the office of the DPP and the attorney general has been around of well over a 100 years

[@stephenhardy312]

@@geezerp1982 . . . but not the Crown Prosecution Service.

[@anotherblonde]

Willing for a shilling? Excellent drama. Thanks for upload.

[@thecultofjohnnydelr.soulsw7010]

Man up son, bring back national service for the weeping boy 😂 Such great acting 🎭

[@IanMelling-t8e]

Thanks was my first and only acting job, I was 13 & went to Manchester high school of art which was about 5 mins from Granada studio, quite a few of us appeared on TV due to our closeness to the studios. Can't believe I've stumbled across this as a near 60 year old, Andrew Sachs was an absolute star and looked after myself and the other young boy

[@pamelacorbett8774]

Why are prosecutors and defence counsel allowed to insult, bully and degrade witnesses as they please, while they themselves demand politeness and respect?

[@kirkbrookes4812]

Wish you had them all jezz

[@jezt42]

So do I, Kirk! :)

[@waynecalder8615]

The best legal drama

[@malcolmlucas6627]

Certainly far better then the never-ending sequence of crime dramas that the BBC and ITV peddle endlessly with trailers shown so frequently that highlight their poor quality!

[@jamessmith530]

When the boat comes in jacks brother played the policeman

[@autodidact2499]

There's just a bit of Manuel in Andrew Sach's gestures, isn't there?

[@beaufighter245]

Que?

[@PetroicaRodinogaster264]

It is painfully clear that you are only likely to be believed in court if your barrister is more competent than the other one at convincing the jury and judge regardless of the truth. In this case if it looks like a banana and tastes and smells like a banana, then there is a good chance it is a banana. The doctor...LoL!

[@ukchristian28]

They didn't tell you the sentence this time. I would have been interested to know what he received.

[@Spectrescup]

You bastard. I thought there was a no spoilers rule on here.

[@stingray4real]

Peter Jeffrey appeared as a tenant in Rising Damp and in the cult film as the Schoolteacher in If.....

[@lindaluckett4032]

Agree with the Judge and the verdict

[@onelife7247]

Always prevails, or at least it ought to.

[@Beastriderpav]

Manuelle, your English has improved, Keh?

[@milesholtom7167]

The defence didn't do him any favors in pointing out his history of perversion.

[@brucebean2805]

Most interesting topic. Currently I my small country a convicted sexual predator was released and immediately rraffended? Today we have alternatives to prison such as home arrest and electronic ankle bracelets. Well done.

[@imrank340]

What uncannily court clerk did not give a religious choice to ask their faith to these young lads?

[@janethammond5925]

I would not have found him guilty because he had shown total honesty by pleading guilty in all previous cases. So why lie now? To me his guilt was not proven beyond all reasonable doubt.

[@salfordricuk3959]

Andrew Sachs died on Friday i think.

[@British_loyalist]

This is treasure. Nisbitt is a legend.

[@mampuyaliambamwabafulibake4464]

The Doctor was a most useless witness 😅

[@patrickkparrker413]

" Given over to a reprobate mind "

[@michaeligoe3935]

Manuel is unrecognisible :)

[@jezt42]

Hi, Michael. FYI, I've deleted the comments by another user on the "Scard" story, which were unnecessary and vile. He's since been blocked from commenting on any other KZbin clips on my channel. In the meantime, hope you're enjoying the other episodes of Crown Court! :)

[@michaeligoe3935]

Hi Jez. Thanks for the info. I love your channel and have become a Crown Court addict all over again . On "Scard"at the moment marvelling at Alison Steadman. Never knew she did TV before the Mike Leigh films. As I said to you before I like how you keep all the interval music through the three day story.Like so many others, Jez, I'm in your debt. Best wishes.

[@mikewilliams8713]

Michael Igoe At the risk of stating the bleeding obvious, that is self-evidently untrue.

[@markgreet3543]

Shocking really

[@patrickkparrker413]

53 41 He's rolling it not smoking it , syops again .

[@InaMacallan]

I love the little 'No Smoking' vignettes they insert occasionally. The sign never stops the barristers!

[@FunkySpunkyJunky]

Spoiler warning...... I think the moment he was revealed as a convicted paedofile with a string of past offenses, a guilty verdict was unavoidable.

[@kirkbrookes4812]

The guy is not right.

[@chrisrainbow2393]

was the defendents mother Julie walters ? it sure looked like her.

[@CuddlyGayBear]

No. This was 1978 remember. Julie would have been mid-20s then.

[@chrisrainbow2393]

yes, I see cuddlygaybear. I guess she is a lookalike.

[@beaufighter245]

Similar but, Josephine Antosz

[@leeosborne3793]

Certainly did! Looks like she did in the Two Soups sketch. :)

[@Kirkee7]

Psychotherapy, I wouldn't give these quacks the time of day.

[@sarasen8147]

the psychiatrist is a famous actor isn't he...wasn't he on Taggart or something?

[@EricTViking]

Alex Norton - Played McAngus in Black Adder among other things.

[@clovelly1946]

There's some funny noses!!

[@timewoundsallheels4ever]

Gripping dramatization. - Had I been a juror, I'd voted not guilty. Would have been most interesting to hear the jurors views as to why they voted the opposite.

[@rin_etoware_2989]

Timewounds Allheels Because they stuck to the facts. The two boys have no reason (at least, no given reason) to falsely accuse the defendant, the defendant confessed to being a pædophile, and he also confessed to going to the scene of the crime to "test himself." Prima facie, this supposed test of his failed, which resulted in this incident.

[@jennawalden8547]

I really enjoy watching these episodes. Was a child during the 70s and remember these being on. This is only my opinion, but I feel how little, if at all, women and children’s rights were valued during these times. Straight, white males certainly ruled the roost. It was appalling really, even domestic violence was permitted in society. . As for peadophiles, there are no cures except life imprisonment which will never happen. Fast forward from 1978 to 2022 and nothing has changed! Although I doubt that any employer would keep a paedo on in this day and age let alone stick up for him in court

[@jamessmith530]

Some familer faces in this program

[@beaufighter245]

Josephine Antosz, I recognised her from something I had watched. Took some memory but it was the pilot of hi de hi. Lady on the train.

[@Spectrescup]

@@beaufighter245 what a memory.

[@sugarbabylove1000]

If that's what psychiatrists as like, heaven help us!

[@patrickkparrker413]

They are .

[@slmanbadr6832]

freeeeeeeeeeeeeek